Improvement in cotton-harvesters



2 Sheets--Sheet L Wl LLIAM H. IRVN G,

CottonA Harvester Patented Feb. 13, 1872.

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wnNEssEs,

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

WILLIAM H. IRVING.

Cotton Harvester.

Patented Feb. 13, 187.2.

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Specificationdescribinganlmproved Cotton- Harvester, invented by WILLIAMH. IRvING,

vment of the draft-poles or shafts;

independ 1y separatedfrom each other at the bottom, but

section of the frame. The pulleys d ,are secured UNITED STATES PATENTQEEICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-HARVESTERS.

Speciication forming part of Letters Patent N o. 123,704, dated February13, 1872.

of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Improved Cotton-Harvester.

My invention consists of a cotton-harvester, the construction andoperation of which are too fully explained hereafter to need preliminarydescription.

Figure l, Sheet l, is a longitudinal sectional view of my improvedcotton-harvester; Fig. 2,V a sectional plan view of the same on the line1 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation on the line 3 4, Fig. 2; Fig.4, Sheet 2, a transverse section on the line 5 6, Fig. 1; Figs. 5, 6, 7,8, and 9, enlarged views of parts of the machine 5 and Fig. l0, adiagram illustrating the arrangeflhe frame of the harvester consists oftwo Aent box-like sections, A and A', entireso secured together at thetop by cross-pieces a aand by a bent axle, B, that there shall be acentral longitudinal space, x, between the said sectionsof suicientwidth and height for the passage of the row of cotton-plants from whichthe cotton is to be picked by the machine. The frame is supported at asuitable height above the ground by wheels D D, hung to the projectingends of the axle B, outside of the sections A and A', and to the innerfaces of these wheels are secured grooved pulleys E, fromwhich, by meansof cords or belts b, motion, in the direction of the arrows, istransmittedto four pulleys, d, dl, d2, and d3,'on each to the outer endsof rollers F F, hung to the rear of the frame, at points close to thebottom of the same, and the pulleys d' are situated at the extremefront'end of the machine 5 being secured to the rollers F' F', hung tothe tops of inclined extensions G and G', which project forward from thefront of the frame. An endless traversing-apron, H, provided at regularintervals with transverse slats e, extends the whole length of themachine within the section A and extension G, and passes around andreceives its'motion from therollers F and F', the said apron alsopassingbeneath and being held down by rollers c and c' at the base of theextension G, so that its front portion shall follow the inclination ofthe latter, and vits rear portion be parallel with and close to thebottom ofthe section within which it is contained. Both the extensionGand frame proper project above apron H on both sides, thus inclosingthe same, and forming what may be termed a trough, of which the apron isthe movable bottom. A precisely similar endless apron, H', is arrangedwithin the opposite section A' of the frame and its inclined extensionG' 5 and over both of these aprons, at the front of the machine, arearranged fans II, for apurpose described hereafter, which receive theirmotion from the above-mentioned pulleys d2. Extending along the inneredge of each section of the frame is a row of verticalv rods, J 5 therebeing in the present instance iive of these rods on each side, arrangedat points directly opposite each other in the two sections.

(See Figs. 1 and- 2.) Each rod J passes through and is guided by openings in the top and bottom of the frame, is squared `at its lower end toprevent it from turning, and has a handled nut, f, adapted to its upperthreaded end, by means of which it can be adjusted vertically in theframe. (See Figs. l and 4.) Upon each arm J is strung four or othersuitable number of reels, K, each revolving loosely and independently ina horizontal plane, and each projecting outward into thecentral space a:between -the two sections of the frame, so that the reels of one sectionshall nearly meet, or slightly overlap, those of the other. The reelsalso of each section are set at such intervals upon their rods J thatthose of one rod shall lap and pass between the reels of the adjacentrods upon eachl side. (See Figs. l and 2.) The reels may have elongatedhubs g, Fig. 5, to maintain them'at proper distances apart; but as it isdesirable that they should be adjustable toward and from each other, Iprefer to form them with hubs of ordinary width, with washers ordistance pieces `g' strung upon the rod and interposed between them, inthe manner illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 .f The distancepieces also serveto support upon the rods, at

suitable intervals apart, horizontal strips L,

which carry brushes h and Wire combs t', the former projecting upwardand the latter downward into the path of the reels, as best observed inFigs. 5 and 9. These brushes and wire combs, however, are notcontinuous, but only occur at intervals or at the most advantageouspoints for stripping the cotton from the reels and depositing it uponthe endless aprons H and H,i,n the manner fully described hereafter.

The manner of constructing the reels forms an important feature of myinvention, and is as follows, reference being had to Figs. 5, S, and 9:Each reel has a central hub, g, from which radiate arms k, and each ofthe latter consists of a fixed central rod, Z, secured to'the hub, andcarrying a sleeve, m, enlarged in diameter toward its outer rounded end, and armed upon the exterior with rows of sharp-pointed bent teeth, 1,between which rows, and extend ing longitudinally from end to end of thesleeve, is a number of wire rods, s, for a purpose describedhereafter.This sleeve turns freely upon its axis or the rod, and can also slidelon gitudinally upon the same'to a limited extent toward and from thecenter of the reel; The sleeve, however, is constantly forced outward bya spiral spring, q, bearing against its inner end and wound upon the rodZ within the hub; the said spring permitting the sleeve to yield topressure and slide inward when necessary, as hereafter described. A

In using the machine, the draft animals are attached to yokes or shaftsw, hun g to the front end of each section of the frame, and bent orrounded in front in the manner best observed in Fig. 10, so as not tocatch in or be obstructed by the cotton-stalks, and the machine is drawnforward over the ground, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. l, 2, andl0, in such a direction that it shall pass over the row of cotton-plantswhich extends upward into the space a: between the two sections of theframe into the path of the projecting reels K. The first of the latter,on striking the stalks, will be turned by the same on their rods J inthe direction of the arrows, Fig. 2, the hooked and pointed teeth ontheir arms 7c seizing and dragging a portion of the cotton from theopened bolls, and, as each stalk will be thus subjected to the actionofthe whole number of reels upon both sides, the cotton will beeffectually and completely plucked from the same by the time it emergesfrom the rear of the machine. The empty cups of the bolls, however, willnot be detached from the stalks, but will remain upon the latter 5 andsuch leaves, small twigs, 815e., that may be broken off and caught uponthe teeth of the reels will be prevented from adhering too closely toand frombecomingmatted upon the latterby the wire-springrods s, which,by springing out between the teeth, either cause such foreign matter tofall off or facilitate its after removal with the cotton by the brushesh. The arms of the reels, being rounded at the ends, will offer noserious impediment to the passage between them of the cotton-plants, andshould any of the said arms strike Vone of the rigid main stalks it willat once yield and slide inward toward the center upon its rod l to theextent permitted by the spring q, thus allowing the said stalk to pass.As the reels move forward with the machine and strike a number of plantssuccessively, they will be rotated continuously upon their rods J in thedirection of the arrows, Fig. 2, and each arm lc of the said reels, inpassing between the strips L prior to again emerging into the space w,will be partially turned upon its axis by the wire comb z' and strippedof its cotton by the brush h.

This operation will be best understood by referring to the enlargedviews, Figs. 5 and 9, where it will be seen that each arm, with itsadhering cotton, is permitted to pass unobstructedly into its section ofthe frame and over the endless apron H or H; but that in emerging fromthe said section it is compelled to pass between one of the brushes hand its wire combs i. The latter, as shown in Fig. 9, is struck by theteeth r, and thus turns the arm upon its axis and against the brush h,which efectually strips the arm of its cotton, and permits the latter todrop onto the endless conductor H or H'.' A continuous supply of cotton,with some little foreign matter, such as leaves, twigs, &c., is thusdeposited upon the aprons and conveyed by the same toward the front ofthe machine, passing beneath the rollers c c, by which it is slightlycompressed; then up the inclined extensions Gr and G of the frame, uponwhich it is exposed to currents of air induced by the fans I I, thuscleansing it of dust, dbris, Ste.; and the cotton is finally dischargedover the ends of the extensions into bags placed to receive it.

The bags are hooked onto the front ends of the extensions Gr and G', andremoved when filled and replaced by empty ones, by attendants who arestationed for the purpose at either side 'of I the machine upon steps.

As before mentioned, the reels can be adjusted vertically, either upwardor downward, or can be brought closer together or separated from eachother, according as the machine is to be used for harvesting lowland,midland, or upland cotton.

The machine might be modified in construction by placing the inclinedextensions Gr and G at the back, so as to discharge at the rear insteadof the front; but I prefer to arrange the parts as above described.

I claim as my inventi 011-- l. The frame, consisting of the two box-likesections, connected together, open at their inner sides and ends, andtraversed at the bottoms by endless bands, as specified, in combinationwith a series of vertical shafts and radiating arms or beaters, arrangedand operating as setV forth.

2. The toothed picking-reels K, constructed substantially asl described,and arranged, in respect to each other, upon the opposite sections ofthe frame, substantially as set forth.

3. The rods J, in combination with the reels K, and capable with thelatter of being adj usted vertically upon the frame, substantially asherein described.

4. The combination, with rods J andrreels K, of strips L, carrying combsi or their equvalents, and strung upon the said rods alternately withthe reels, substantially as herein described.

5. The combination ofthe arms k of the reels, constructed substantiallyas described,

and brushes h attached to the strips L.

6. The arms k of the reels, each consisting of a central rod, Z, toothedsleeve m, rods s, and spring q, hung to and arranged to rotate freelyupon the rod.

7. The combination of the toothed sleeve m, constructed substantially asdescribed, and capable of slidinglongitudinally uponits rod land aspring, ],Which tends to force it outward,a11

, Substantially as specified.

8. The combination, With the rows of teeth upon each arm of the reel, ofWire rods, ar ranged to have limited play, as andfor the purposespecified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

^ WM. H. IRVIN G.

Witnesses: G

WM. A. STEEL, HARRY SMITH.

